Xi Ranchen looked over Yang Yao’s room.
After what had just happened, it was a complete mess, with no place to even stand, let alone stay.
“Yao’er, go settle in my place for now.”
Xi Ranchen looked at Yang Yao’s current state and shook her head inwardly.
She had told her not to take Xu Lin’s help too seriously, just to use him, but now she was far too miserable.
At least that kid Xu Lin was sensible enough not to have any ulterior motives, which made Xi Ranchen think a bit more highly of him.
“As Master says.”
Yang Yao agreed.
For now, this was the only option.
“As for you, boy…”
Xi Ranchen shifted her tone and looked at Xu Lin, who had already recovered.
“What about me?”
Xu Lin felt speechless.
Yang Yao’s cold expression definitely had something to do with Xi Ranchen.
Xi Ranchen’s gaze swept the room and landed on the dark stain on the floor.
That was the black blood Yang Yao had just coughed up.
Not only that, the spilled medicinal bath also swirled with traces of black turbidity, all seeming to have been forced out of Yang Yao’s body.
“After this, how is Yao’er’s condition?”
This was Xi Ranchen’s biggest concern.
“Unlike when I used silver needles to force it out, this time most of the Bone Poison has been expelled.”
Xu Lin also glanced at the black stain on the ground.
“To be safe, we need at least two more sessions. One to force out the remaining traces, and one to cleanse the root bone and eliminate any hidden risks.”
Xu Lin felt this was the safest approach.
After all, no one knew how long the Bone Poison had been in Yang Yao’s body.
A few more sessions wouldn’t hurt.
Hearing this, before Xi Ranchen could react, Yang Yao’s eyes widened, and her fingers instinctively tightened on the thin gauze draped over her.
‘Two more sessions? Doesn’t that mean I have to go through that humiliating ordeal two more times?’
Noticing the resistance in Yang Yao’s expression, Xu Lin chuckled lightly.
“Of course, if the Holy Maiden minds, she could slowly refine the remnant poison on her own. There’s no need for me to intervene after today.”
It might take longer, but if she was willing, it had nothing to do with Xu Lin.
Whether she accepted his help or not, he had to be clear.
It wasn’t that he insisted on helping her.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say.”
Before Yang Yao could respond, Xi Ranchen answered for her.
“But after today, there’s still medicinal power in her body. It’s best to wait a few days before the next medicinal bath.”
Xu Lin added.
If they didn’t wait for the medicinal power to settle, and continued needling to disturb the meridians, it might backfire.
“How many days?”
Xu Lin didn’t understand why Xi Ranchen was suddenly so urgent, even more anxious than Yang Yao.
He estimated briefly.
“At least five days. If you’re in a hurry, I can’t guarantee it will be as effective as this time.”
“You’ve thought it through quite thoroughly, boy.”
Xi Ranchen grew more convinced that Xu Lin was genuine, and fairly upright.
If not for his previous identity, she might have seriously considered recruiting him into the Sunset Sect.
Five days was just right.
After that, the Sect Advancement Tournament would happen soon, and by then, Yang Yao should be mostly fine.
“Since that’s settled, I’m going back to sleep.”
Xu Lin waded through the medicinal bath water, looking tired as he yawned.
“Later, I’ll go to your Elixir Workshop to pick up ingredients for alchemy.”
He was truly exhausted this time.
Not only had the needling drained his energy, but he had also been caught in the scattered pressure from Yang Yao’s outburst.
As soon as Xu Lin stepped out the door, that familiar pressure pressed down on him, freezing him in place.
“What’s your angle?”
Xu Lin glanced sideways at Xi Ranchen.
Even if she wanted to burn the bridge, now wasn’t the time.
“Since it won’t be long, you don’t need to go back. Come with Yao’er and me to my place.”
“Not…”
Xu Lin sighed with a laugh, almost at a loss for words.
“That doesn’t seem right, does it? This place is huge. You don’t need to cram me in with you.”
He felt Xi Ranchen definitely had ulterior motives.
“I have all the equipment there. It’ll be more convenient if you need to refine medicine.”
“No need. I think the stuff from your Elixir Workshop works just fine.”
He shouldn’t have mentioned that.
At the mention of it, Xi Ranchen’s brow furrowed slightly.
She turned and walked slowly toward Xu Lin until she stood right in front of him.
Xi Ranchen glared at Xu Lin.
“Don’t think I don’t know about all the things you took last time.”
Xu Lin gave an awkward smile.
“Wasn’t it for the sake of your sect’s Holy Maiden?”
“Oh, really?”
Xi Ranchen didn’t believe a word.
“Spiritual herbs and plants I can let slide, but what about all those pills? How do you explain that?”
This kid was still dishonest.
And from what he just said, he clearly planned to visit the Elixir Workshop again.
She had investigated him, that was true.
But that was just digging up his background.
This kid was trying to drain her sect dry.
If she let him go to the Elixir Workshop two more times, half the spiritual herbs and pills would probably disappear.
Xu Lin pursed his lips and smiled.
“I have a high consumption rate, so I need to eat a lot… Maybe that’s why the Vast Dao Sect kicked me out. Believe me?”
“Glib tongue.”
Xi Ranchen figured he was just fooling around.
She grabbed Xu Lin’s shoulder.
“Come with me quietly. I happen to be interested in your alchemy skills.”
Without wasting any more words, Xi Ranchen led him straight toward her residence.
Yang Yao didn’t follow immediately.
She needed to change clothes first.
But when she turned to face the mess in the room, she paused, recalling what had just happened, and lost herself in thought.
Throughout it all, Xu Lin had been the same carefree, lazy type, even in front of her master.
It made one wonder if he was really a fool or just pretending.
But it was his reminder, the way he faced her while needling out her poison—as she replayed it now, it felt familiar.
In her previous life, Xu Lin, the Senior Brother of Green Cliff Peak in the Vast Dao Sect, had been just like that.
Even though she had always hated him because he was that person’s Guide, today he had helped her so openly, even risking injury, and that felt strange.
He spoke directly, acted with full effort, exactly as the rumors from her previous life had described.
The only difference was his penchant for idle chatter and foolish jokes, which Yang Yao felt set him apart from his past self.
“What’s up with that guy?”
Yang Yao muttered to herself.
As she pressed her lips together, her anger still simmered.
She lowered her gaze and unconsciously looked at her heaving chest, her nameless fury intensifying.
“When it comes down to it, he’s nothing more than a rude and debauched scoundrel.”
As she spoke, her fingers gripping the thin gauze grew even tighter.
Thinking she would have to endure the same humiliation two more times only made her feel more degraded.
Once her master’s plan succeeded and she had slain her enemy, she would make Xu Lin pay double for everything today and for whatever might happen in the future.